Caring for Cutting Horses ... Er, Ponies

In 2012 editor-in-chief Stephanie Church started an editorial tradition: Once a year our four-strong team of dressage/eventing/hunter/jumper riders takes a horsey field trip to try out a new discipline. Last winter it was polo, which was a blast even if my mallet-wielding arm was sore for days after. This month we all tried our hands (and seats) at cutting cows. Talk about a completely different riding style than I'm used to!

The first cow we met was the "babysitter."

Zorro pays no heed to the cattle.

You can see the need for leg protection as cutting pro Gabe Reynolds gives us a demo.

Photos: Alexandra Beckstett

We dedicated the better part of a workday to driving the hour and 15 minutes to Shelbyville, Ky., where National Cutting Horse Association director Jeff Fisk, cutting pro Gabe Reynolds, and nonpro Lauren Minshall generously offered their time, expertise, and horses to help us experience their sport. In describing what goes into a successful 2 1/2 minutes in the ring (the amount of time a rider has to cut two to three cattle in competition), they also shared what goes into caring for and maintaining these athletes.

Similar to any other horse sport, cutters take great care of their horses' legs. Each of our mounts donned either wraps or sport boots to support tendons and prevent limbs from getting banged up as the horse shuffled, spun, and moved with the cow. Gabe said post-ride they bandage, ice, and poultice their horses as needed. They also pay particular attention to the horses' rear engines: their hocks and stifles. These are the joints that wear and tear the most, because cutting horses literally sit back on their hocks to turn and maneuver with a cow. Joint injections as needed are commonplace, as well.

One thing that does differ greatly between cutters and hunter/jumpers is the competition horses' age. Because of the speed and agility needed to cut cows, a horse is in his money-making prime between ages 3 and 5. Horses between ages 6 and 8 are considered very experienced, and beyond that they're typically past their peak and ready to teach newbie riders the cutting game. Gabe noted that cutters begin training these horses as yearlings and 2-year-olds, putting at least 18 months into their education before they ever step foot into a show pen full of cattle.

In contrast, a hunter or jumper prospect might not even begin his real training until the 3-5 age range, and an 8- or 9-year-old can still be considered young or "green."

Another notable discipline difference is cutting horses' size. I was surprised at how petite these Quarter Horses looked. My slender mount Zorro, for instance, couldn't have been an inch over 14 hands, and the other four horses present were all in the 14.2-15-hand range. For someone accustomed to seeing show grounds strewn with 16-hand-plus Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds, these horses looked like midgets. They skillfully carried their heavy tack and tall riders with ease, however. If size matters in this sport, it's the smaller the nimbler!

So what breed or discipline should we try during our next equine office outing?

About the Author

Alexandra

Alexandra Beckstett, Managing Editor of The Horse and a native of Houston, Texas, is a lifelong horse owner who has shown successfully on the national hunter/jumper circuit and dabbled in hunter breeding.

Comments

The views expressed in the posts and comments of this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Horse or Blood-Horse Publications. They should be understood as the personal opinions of the author. All readers are encouraged to leave comments; all points of view are welcome, but comments that are discourteous and/or off-topic may be removed.

tina

Denise

31 Oct 2013 6:47 PM

Working Draft Horses

Mandy

31 Oct 2013 7:13 PM

Vaulting

Jennifer

31 Oct 2013 7:36 PM

Too young, just my opinion.

Suzanne

31 Oct 2013 10:36 PM

Too young and too hard on the horses. If medical intervention is required routinely( Joint injections as needed are commonplace, as well.) then there is something wrong with the attitude of the people involved.

Nick

01 Nov 2013 4:24 AM

Long distance riding (either endurance or competitive trail). There's no way you can just hop on a horse and go for a 50 mile ride, so my thought is you volunteer at a ride and help with the vet checks or whatever. Driving would be my second choice (and probably easier for you to sample).

Elissa

01 Nov 2013 4:42 PM

These horses are generally "washed up" by the time they're 5 or 6 because they are started way too young and their joints, tendons and muscles are destroyed by doing way too much way too soon in their young lives just so their owners can make a few bucks breeding them later on. So sad.

donna

04 Nov 2013 5:49 PM

I agree that a sport that considers a 10 yr old as past his prime , babies are being ridden mostly before their growth plates have closed and where joint injections are commonplace is unwise and borders on abusive. If the horses weren't pushed so hard, this would be a useful sport as the intent was to produce working cow horses. Unfortunately, competition often results in doing whatever is needed to win.

In regards to a sport to try, combined driving is a lot of fun and one can get a feel for it as a navigator, standing behind an experienced driver.

Karen

04 Nov 2013 7:51 PM

I hthought the days of destroying a young horse for the thrill of the owner was past,, I think combined driving &vaulting would be valuable disciplines to discuss,,

Linda

04 Nov 2013 9:27 PM

Would love an article on harness - different types and how to use it properly. My grandfather sketched out a basic harness he used to use on the mules before he passed away. I miss him.

Or how about side saddle?

Linda

05 Nov 2013 6:54 AM

I agree with Elissa, go check out Endurance riding! Even a LD (limited distance) ride can be hard on a body if you dont train BUT you could help crew (Crazy Rider Endless Wait) and maybe take a smaller ride through marked trails with an experianced rider so you can understand the speed and trill of the sport. Def an amazing time!

Rhonda

05 Nov 2013 1:09 PM

I absolutely agree that too many horses are started too young and end up with painful joints the remainder of their lives. I plan to pony and condition my current filly to promote denser, healthier bones, tendons and ligaments. She may do light riding at 3 but won't start serious training until she's 4 years old.